These teams addressed their biggest weaknesses

The offseason provides every MLB entrance workplace an prolonged alternative to pinpoint its roster’s largest weaknesses and deal with them.

With the present offseason winding down, right here’s a position-by-position take a look at which groups made essentially the most substantial enhancements in areas that have been main weak spots for them a 12 months in the past.

What occurred: With Cards legend Yadier Molina slumping to profession worst offensive ranges in his ultimate MLB season and Andrew Knizner supplying little offense in his personal proper, St. Louis’ catching group posted the third-lowest OPS (.552) within the Majors, higher than solely the Pirates and Guardians. Knizner’s .601 OPS was really the very best among the many 4 gamers who began a recreation behind the plate for the Cards in 2022, and the quartet of Molina, Knizner, Iván Herrera and Austin Romine mixed for -0.6 wins above substitute, per FanGraphs.

What’s modified: The Cardinals went out and signed one of many prime hitting catchers within the recreation, inking free agent Willson Contreras to a five-year, $87.5 million deal. Contreras, the longtime beginning catcher for the rival Cubs, has 4 20-plus residence run seasons on his resume in addition to a lifetime .808 OPS, together with .815 in 2022. Steamer, one in every of baseball’s premier projection methods, predicts the 30-year-old will produce 3.2 WAR in 2023, tied for the seventh-best projection amongst catchers.

What occurred: After successful the AL batting title in 2021, Yuli Gurriel struggled to the tune of a .242/.288/.360 slash over 146 video games final season, producing -0.9 WAR. Houston first basemen recorded a collective .656 OPS, the sixth-lowest mark in MLB.

What’s modified: The Astros signed José Abreu to a three-year, $58.5 million deal in free company to interchange Gurriel. While the 2020 AL MVP had a career-low 15 homers final season, he nonetheless produced a 133 OPS+ and three.9 WAR whereas slashing .304/.378/.446.

What occurred: The M’s acquired Adam Frazier from the Padres in November 2021 and put in him as their beginning second baseman, however the veteran posted a .238 common — 67 factors decrease than he hit the earlier season — with a .612 OPS and 1.1 WAR over 156 video games, together with 113 begins on the keystone. With Abraham Toro (.563 OPS) additionally garnering 39 begins on the place, Seattle second basemen had the third-lowest OPS (.607) in MLB.

What’s modified: With Frazier reaching free company, the Mariners made one other offseason commerce for a second baseman, sending outfielder Jesse Winker and Toro to the Brewers for Kolten Wong in December. Wong isn’t an excellent hitter, and he’s coming off a down 12 months on protection after successful Gold Glove Awards in 2019 and 2020. However, Steamer initiatives him for a .709 OPS and a pair of.4 WAR in 2023, which might be a substantial enchancment over the staff’s second-base manufacturing from 2022.

What occurred: The majority of Washington’s third-base begins in 2022 went to veteran Maikel Franco, who was launched final August and is now a member of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Nats third basemen posted a .613 OPS, third lowest in MLB.

What’s modified: After the Tigers non-tendered Jeimer Candelario, the Nats signed the 29-year-old to a one-year deal in December. Candelario’s projections aren’t eye-popping, however a .240 common, 17 homers, a .717 OPS and 1.5 WAR can be a transparent improve in comparison with what Washington acquired from its third basemen in 2022. During an offseason when there weren’t many impactful third basemen available in free company, this stands out as the largest hot-corner enchancment any staff made relative to 2022.

What occurred: The Phillies opened final season with Didi Gregorius as their common shortstop, however after the veteran recorded one homer and a .567 OPS over his first 232 plate appearances, Philadelphia launched him on Aug. 4 and handed the beginning job to rookie Bryson Stott. Though the teen was higher than Gregorius, he didn’t precisely set the world on hearth, ending the common season with 10 homers and a .653 OPS.

What’s modified: Trea Turner, anybody? The Phillies made one of many largest splashes of the offseason after they signed the celebrity shortstop to an 11-year, $300 million contract. As a end result, they’ve gone from having a below-average shortstop scenario to among the finest. Turner, who hits for common and energy and is likely one of the quickest gamers in baseball, has a 4.7 WAR projection for 2023.

What’s modified: Having Soto for a full season would have made some distinction by itself, however the Friars wanted to do extra to enhance their outfield manufacturing, particularly with Profar and Myers each reaching free company. After an Eleventh-hour push for Aaron Judge fell quick, the Padres went with an outside-the-box choice to handle their outfield, signing shortstop Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year, $280 million contract. San Diego, in fact, already had a shortstop in Fernando Tatis Jr., however the 24-year-old will now be patrolling the outfield with Soto and Grisham. In phrases of WAR, Soto is Steamer’s prime projected participant at 7.1, and Tatis is tied for eighth at 5.5. The Padres additionally signed Matt Carpenter, who might see time on the outfield corners, and Adam Engel.

What occurred: The Rangers shocked the baseball world with their offseason spending spree after the 2021 season, signing infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien and right-hander Jon Gray for a mixed $556 million and including Martín Pérez on a one-year deal. But regardless of getting a profession 12 months from Pérez and a stable, albeit injury-plagued, season from Gray, the Rangers’ rotation was among the many worst within the Majors. Dane Dunning, Glenn Otto, Taylor Hearn, Cole Ragans, Spencer Howard, Kohei Arihara and Dallas Keuchel mixed to make 92 begins with a 5.42 ERA, and the Rangers recorded their sixth straight shedding season at 68-94.

What’s modified: Texas invested closely in its rotation, bringing again Pérez with a one-year qualifying provide earlier than signing two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney in free company and buying and selling for Jake Odorizzi. There’s a whole lot of danger concerned given the damage histories and ages of the pitchers they acquired, however there’s no denying the upside right here. If this experiment works, the Rangers might have the finest rotation within the sport.

What occurred: Though they discovered a gem in John Schreiber and had success changing Tanner Houck to a late-inning position, the Red Sox in any other case had little go proper with their reduction corps in 2022. Boston had MLB’s fifth-highest bullpen ERA (4.59) and tied for final within the proportion of inherited runners who got here round to attain (40%).

What’s modified: The Red Sox’s offseason left loads to be desired, shedding Bogaerts to the Padres and largely staying away from pursuing different elite free brokers. But on the very least, Boston did improve its bullpen considerably with the additions of Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin, who’re anticipated to function the staff’s nearer and setup man, respectively. The Red Sox additionally signed left-hander Joely Rodríguez and added one other left-hander, Richard Bleier, from the Marlins in a commerce for Matt Barnes. Boston’s bullpen now initiatives to be a middle-of-the-pack unit as a substitute of one in every of MLB’s worst.